THE  SECRET 
AGREEMENTS 


WITH  A  PREFACE  BY 
CHARLES  RODEN  BUXTON 
AND  NINE  MAPS  ?  ?  ?  ? 


PRICE    SIXPENCE. 


The  National  Labour  Press,  Limited,  30,  Blackfriars  Street, 
Manchester.  And  at  London. 


UCSB    LIBRARY 
X- 


PREFACE. 

In  view  of  the  widespread  misconceptions  as  to  the  nature 
of  the  agreements  concluded  during  the  war  between  the  Allied 
Governments,  I  have  collected  in  the  following  pages  the  actual 
texts  of  the  documents  in  which  they  are  embodied,  so  far  as  these 
documents  have  been  published.  The  translations  (for  which 
I  am  indebted  to  the  courtesy  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Manchester 
Guardian  and  the  Cambridge  Magazine)  have  been  made  from  the 
Russian  text  as  published  by  the  Izvestiya,  the  official  organ  of  the 
All-Kussian  Congress  of  Soviets,  in  November,  1917,  and  the 
following  months.  The  documents  were  there  described  as  having 
been  found  among  the  secret  papers  of  the  Eussian  Foreign  Office , 
and  published  by  M.  Trotzky,  People's  Commissioner  for  Foreign 
Affairs. 

All  dates  are  given  according  to  the  new  style,  i.e.,  they 
correspond  with  our  own  calendar. 

How  far  the  agreements  are  still  in  force,  and  whether  the 
series  is  or  is  not  complete,  are  questions  which  we  have  at  present 
no  means  of  answering. 

The  geographical  details  will  be  readily  understood  by  reference 

to  the  maps. 

CHARLES  RODEN  BUXTON. 

6,  Erskine  Hill,  February,  1918. 

Golder's  Green,  N.W. 


THE  SECRET  AGREEMENTS. 


I.  THE  LEFT  BANK  OF  THE  EHINE. 

Note  of  the  Russian  Minister  for  Foreign  Affairs  of  February  14, 
1917,  No.  26,  addressed  to  the  French  Ambassador  at 
Petrograd : — 

In  your  Note  of  to-day's  date   your  Excellency  was  good 
enough  to  inform  the  Imperial  Government  that  the  Government 


THE    LEFT  BANK  OF 
THE      RHINE 


WESTPHALl  A 
f 


A  Iron  District  of  Lorraine 
B  Coal  district  of  the  Saar. 


R     M      A     N     Y 


BAVA  RI  A 


WURTEM 
BURG 


FRANCE 


of  the  Kepublic  was  contemplating  the  inclusion  in  the  terms  of 
peace  to  be  offered  to  Germany  the  following  demands  and 
guarantees  of  a  territorial  nature :  — 

(1)  Alsace-Lorraine  to  be  restored  to  France. 

(2)  The  frontiers  are  to  be  extended  at  least  up  to  the 


6 

limits  of  the  former  principality  of  Lorraine,  and  are  to  be 
drawn  up  at  the  discretion  of  the  French  Government  so  as 
to  provide  for  the  strategical  needs  and  for  the  inclusion  in 
French  territory  of  the  entire  iron  district  of  Lorraine  and  of 
the  entire  coal  district  of  the  Saar  valley. 

(3)  The  rest  of  the  territories  situated  on  the  left  bank 
of  the  Rhine  which  now  form  part  of  the  German  Empire  are 
to  be  entirely  separated  from  Germany  and  freed  from  all 
political  and  economic  dependence  upon  her. 

(4)  The  territories  of  the  left  bank  of  the  Rhine  outside 
French  territory  are  to  be  constituted  an  autonomous  and 
neutral  State,  and  are  to  be  occupied  by  French  troops  until 
such  time  as  the  enemy  States  have  completely  satisfied  all 
the  conditions  and  guarantees  indicated  in  the  treaty  of  peace. 

Your  Excellency  stated  that  the  Government  of  the  Republic 
would  be  happy  to  be  able  to  rely  upon  the  support  of  the  Imperial 
Government  for  the  carrying  out  of  its  plans.  By  order  of  his 
Imperial  Majesty,  my  most  august  master,  I  have  the  honour,  in 
the  name  of  the  Russian  Government,  to  inform  your  Excellency 
by  the  present  Note  that  the  Government  of  the  Republic  may 
rely  upon  the  support  of  the  Imperial  Government  for  the  carrying 
out  of  its  plans  as  set  out  above. 

— (Manchester  Guardian,  December  12,  1917.) 


II.     THE  AGREEMENT  WITH  ITALY. 

Memorandum  laid  before  the  Allies  by  the  Italian  Government  on 
the  eve  of  Italy's  entry  into  the  war  in  1915,  together  with  the 
Agreement  signed  by  the  representatives  of  Great  Britain, 
France,  Russia,  and  Italy,  on  April  26,  1915. 

ARTICLE  1. — A  military  convention  is  to  be  concluded  without 
delay  between  the  General  Staffs  of  France,  Great  Britain,  Russia, 
and  Italy  to  determine  the  minimum  number  of  troops  which 
Russia  would  have  to  throw  against  Austria-Hungary  if  the  latter 
should  want  to  concentrate  all  her  forces  against  Italy.  Russia 
should  decide  mainly  to  attack  Germany.  Similarly  the  said 
convention  is  to  regulate  the  questions  relating  to  armistices,  in 
so  far  as  such  armistices  form  an  essential  part  of  the  competence 
of  the  Supreme  Army  Command. 

ARTICLE  2. — On  her  part  Italy  undertakes  by  all  means  at  her 
disposal  to  conduct  the  campaign  in  union  with  France,  Great 
Britain,  and  Russia  against  all  the  Powers  at  war  with  them. 


»-• 


8 

ARTICLE  3. — The  naval  forces  of  France  and  Great  Britain  ar» 
to  render  uninterrupted  and  active  assistance  to  Italy  until  such 
time  as  the  navy  of  Austria  has  been  destroyed  or  peace  has  been 
concluded.  A  naval  convention  is  to  be  concluded  without  delay 
between  France,  Great  Britain,  and  Italy. 

ARTICLE  4. — By  the  future  treaty  of  peace  Italy  is  to  receive 
the  district  of  Trentino ;  the  entire  Southern  Tyrol  up  to  its  natural 
geographical  frontier,  which  is.  the  Brenner  Pass;  the  city  and 
district  of  Trieste ;  the  county  of  Gorizia  and  Gradisca ;  the  entire 
Istria  up  to  the  Quarnero,  including  Volosco  and  the  Istrian  islands 
of  Cherso  and  Lussina,  as  well  as  the  smaller  islands  of  Plavnika, 
Unia,  Canidoli,  Palazzuoli,  S.  Petri  dei  Nembi,  Asinello,  and 
Gruica,  with  the  neighbouring  islets. 

NOTE  1. — Here  follow  the  details  of  the  frontier  delimitation. 

ARTICLE  5. — Italy  will  likewise  receive  the  province  of 
Dalmatia  in  its  present  frontiers,  including  Lisserica  and  Trebigne 
[Trebanje],  in  the  north,  and  all  the  country  in  the  south  up  to 
a  line  drawn  from  the  coast,  at  the  promontory  of  Planka,  east- 
wards along  the  watershed  in  such  a  way  as  to  include  in  the 
Italian  possessions  all  the  valleys  of  the  rivers  flowing  into  the 
Sebenico — viz.,  Cikola,  Kerka,  and  Buotisnica,  with  all  their 
affluents..  Italy  will  likewise  obtain  all  the  islands  situated  to  the 
north  and  west  of  the  coasts  of  Dalmatia,  beginning  with 
Premuda,  Selve,  Ulbo,  Skerda,  Maoh,  Pago,  and  Puntadura,  and 
further  north,  and  down  to  Melada  in  the  south,  with  the  inclusion 
of  the  islands  of  S.  Andrea,  Busi,  Lissa,  Lesina,  Torcola,  Curzola, 
Cazza,  and  Lagosta,  with  all  the  adjacent  rocks  and  islets,  as  well 
as  Pelagosa,  but  without  the  islands  of  Zirona  Grande  and  Zirona 
Piccola,  Bua,  Solta,  and  Brazza. 

The  following  are  to  be  neutralised: — (1)  The  entire  coast 
from  Planka,  in  the  north,  to  the  southern  extremity  of  the 
Sabbioncello  peninsula,  including  this  last-named  peninsula  in  its 
entirety ;  (2)  the  part  of  the  littoral  from  a  point  ten  versts  south 
of  the  promontory  of  Ragusa  Vecchia  to  the  Viosa  [Vojuzza] 
River,  so  as  to  include  in  the  neutralised  zone  the  entire  gulf  of 
Cattaro,  with  its  ports  of  Antivari,  Dulcigno,  San  Giovanni  di 
Medua,  and  Durazzo;  the  rights  of  Montenegro,  arising  from  the 
declarations  exchanged  by  the  two  contracting  parties  as  far  back 
as  April  and  May,  1909,  remaining  intact.  Nevertheless,  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  those  rights  were  guaranteed  to  Montenegro  within 
her  present  frontiers,  they  are  not  to  be  extended  to  those 
territories  and  ports  which  may  eventually  be  given  to  Montenegro. 
Thus,  none  of  the  ports  of  the  littoral  now  belonging  to  Montenegro 
is.  to  be  neutralised  at  any  future  time.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
disqualifications  affecting  Antivari,  to  which  Montenegro  herself 


9 

agreed  in  1909,  are  to  remain  in  force;  (3)  lastly,  all  the  islands 
which  are  not  annexed  to  Italy. 

NOTE  2. — The  following  territories  on  the  Adriatic  will  be  included 
by  the  Powers  of  the  Quadruple  Entente  in  Croatia,  Serbia,  and 
Montenegro  : — In  the  north  of  the  Adriatic,  the  entire  coast  from  Volosco 
Bay,  on  the  border  of  Istria,  to  the  northern  frontier  of  Dalmatia,  includ- 
ing the  entire  coast  now  belonging  to  Hungary,  and  the  entire  coast  of 
Croatia,  the  port  of  Fiume,  and  the  small  ports  of  Novi  and  Carlopago, 
and  also  the  islands  of  Veglia,  Perviccio,  Gregorio,  Coli,  and  Arbe ;  and 
in  the  south  of  the  Adriatic,  where  Serbia  and  Montenegro  have  interests, 
the  entire  coast  from  Planka  up  to  the  River  Drin,  with  the  chief  port* 
of  Spalato,  Ragusa,  Cattaro,  Antivari,  Dulcigno,  and  San  Giovanni  di 
Medua,  with  the  islands  of  Zirona  Grande,  Zirona  Piccola,  Bua,  Solta, 
Brazza,  Jaklian,  and  Calamotta. 

The  Port  of  Durazzo  may  be  given  to  the  independent  Mohammedan 
State  of  Albania. 

ARTICLE  6. — Italy  will  receive  in  absolute  property  Valona, 
the  islands  of  Sasseno,  and  as  much  territory  as  would  be  required 
to  secure  their  military  safety — approximately  between  the  Eiver 
Vojazza  in  the  north  and  in  the  east  down  to  the  borders  of  the 
Chimara  district  in  the  south. 

ARTICLE  7. — Italy,  having  received  Trentino  and  Istria  in 
accordance  with  article  4  and  Dalmatia  and  the  Adriatic  islands 
in  accordance  with  article  5  and  the  Gulf  of  Valona,  is  not,  in 
case  of  the  creation  of  a  small  autonomous  and  neutralised  State 
in  Albania,  to  resist  the  possible  desire  of  France,  Great  Britain, 
and  Kussia  to  distribute  among  Montenegro,  Serbia,  and  Greece 
the  northern  and  southem  parts  of  Albania.  The  latter 's  southern 
littoral  from  the  frontier  of  the  Italian  district  of  Valona  to  Capo 
Stylos  is  to  be  neutralised.  Italy  is  to  have  the  right  to  conduct 
foreign  relations  with  Albania;  at  any  rate,  Italy  is  to  agree  to  the 
inclusion  in  Albania  of  a  territory  large  enough  to  allow  her 
frontiers  to  touch  those  of  Greece  and  Serbia  west  of  Ochrida  Lake. 

ARTICLE  8. — Italy  will  obtain  all  the  Twelve  Islands 
[Dodekanese]  now  occupied  by  her,  in  full  possession.* 

ARTICLE  9. — France,  Great  Britain,  and  Russia  admit  in  prin- 
ciple the  fact  of  Italy's  interest  in  the  maintenance  of  the  political 
balance  of  power  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  her  rights,  in  case  of 
a  partition  of  Turkey,  to  a  share,  equal  to  theirs,  in  the  basin  of 
the  Mediterranean — viz.,  in  that  part  of  it  which  adjoins  the 
province  of  Adalia,  in  which  Italy  has  already  acquired  special 
rights  and  interests  defined  in  the  Italo-British  Convention.  The 
zone  which  is  to  be  made  Italy's  property  is  to  be  more  precisely 
defined  in  due  course  in  conformity  with  the  vital  interests  of 
France  and  Great  Britain-  Italy's  interests  will  likewise  be  taken 
into  consideration  in  case  the  Powers  should  also  maintain  the 

*NOTB. — For  these  and  other  places  belonging  to  Turkey  see  map  of 
Turk«y 


10 


territorial  integrity  of  Asiatic  Turkey  for  some  future  period  of 
time,  and  if  they  should  only  proceed  to  establish  among  them- 
selves spheres  of  influence.  In  case  France,  Great  Britain,  and 
Kussia  should,  in  the  course  of  the  present  war,  occupy  any 


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districts  of  Asiatic  Turkey,  the  entire  territory  adjacent  to  Adalia 
and  defined  more  precisely  below  (?)  is  to  be  left  to  Italy,  who 
reserves  her  right  to  occupy  it. 

ARTICLE  10. — In  Libya,  Italy  is  to  enjoy  all  those  rights  and 
privileges  which  now  belong  to  the  Sultan  in  virtue  of  the  Treaty 
of  Lausanne. 

ARTICLE  11. — Italy  is  to  get  a  share  in  the  war  indemnity 
corresponding  to  the  magnitude  of  her  sacrifices  and  efforts. 

ARTICLE  12. — Italy  adheres  to  the  declaration  made  by  France, 
England,  and  Eussia  about  leaving  Arabia  and  the  holy  Moslem 
places  in  the  hands  of  an  independent  Moslem  Power. 

ARTICLE  13. — Should  France  and  Great  Britain  extend  their 
colonial  possessions  in  Africa  at  the  expense  of  Germany  they  will 
admit  in  principle  Italy's  right  to  demand  certain  compensation 


11 

by  way  of  an  extension  of  her  possessions  in  Erythrsea,  Somaliland, 
and  Libya  and  the  colonial  areas  adjoining  French  and  British 
colonies. 

ARTICLE  14. — Great  Britain  undertakes,  to  facilitate  for  Italy 
the  immediate  flotation  on  the  London  market  of  a  loan  on  advan- 
tageous terms  to  the  amount  of  not  less  than  £50,000,000. 

ARTICLE  15. — France,  Great  Britain,  and  Eussia  pledge 
themselves  to  support  Italy  in  not  allowing  the  representatives 
of  the  Holy  See  to  undertake  any  diplomatic  steps  having  for  their 
object  the  conclusion  of  peace  or  the  settlement  of  questions 
connected  with  the  present  war. 

ARTICLE  16. — The  present  treaty  i&  to  be  kept  secret.  As 
regards  Italy's  adhesion  to  the  Declaration  of  September  5,  1914, 
this  Declaration  alone  will  be  published  immediately  on  the 
declaration  of  war  by,  or  against,  Italy. 

Having  taken  into  consideration  the  present  memorandum, 
the  representatives  of  France,  Great  Britain,  and  Kussia,  being 
authorised  thereto,  agreed  with  the  representative  of  Italy,  like- 
wise authorised  thereto,  as  follows:  — 

France,  Great  Britain,  and  Eussia  express  their  complete 
agreement  with  the  present  memorandum  submitted  to  them 
by  the  Italian  Government.  In  respect  of  Articles  1,  2,  and  3  of 
the  present  memorandum,  regarding  the  co-ordination  of  the 
military  and  naval  operations  of  all  the  four  Powers,  Italy 
declares  that  she  will  actively  intervene  at  an  earliest  possible 
date,  and,  at  any  rate,  not  later  than  one  month  after  the 
signature  of  the  present  document  by  the  contracting  parties. 

The  undersigned  have  confirmed  by  hand  and  seal  the  present 
instrument  in  London  in  four  copies.  April  26,  1915. 

(Signed)  GREY,  CAMBON,  IMPERIALI,  BENCKENDORF. 
— (Manchester  Guardian,  January  18,  1918.) 


III.     THE  AGREEMENT  WITH  EOUMANIA. 

From  a  series  of  Russian  diplomatic  documents  published  in  the 
"  Izvestiya"  on  February  4,  1918,  and  summarised  by 
the  "  Manchester  Guardian's  "  Petrograd  correspondent 
(February  8). 

On  the  same  day  [August  8,  1916]  the  text  of  an  agreement 
between  the  Allies  and  Eoumania  is  prepared,  giving  satisfaction 
to  all  Eoumanian's  claims  to  the  Banat,  Transylvania  up  to  the 


12 

Theiss,  and  Bukovina  up  to  the  Pruth.  M.  Stunner,  in  a 
memorandum  to  the  Tsar,  however,  raises  the  objection  that 
Roumania  must  not  be  regarded  as  on  a  footing  with  the  Great 
Powers,  and  the  latter  must  not  be  bound  to  continue  the  war  until 
all  Roumania 's  territorial  claims  are  realised,  since  this  would 
cause  serious  complications  over  the  Constantinople  straits.  On 


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August  9  M.  Poklefsky  telegraphs  that  M.  Bratiano  is  very 
dissatisfied  with  clause  5  of  the  proposed  treaty,  providing  that 
the  Allies  should  not  guarantee  territorial  acquisition  for 
Roumania  by  force  of  arms,  and  threatens,  if  this  point  be  not 
conceded,  to  resign  and  leave  the  Government  of  Roumania  to  the 
Germanophils.  On  August  12  M.  Isvolsky  telegraphs  to  M. 
Sazonoff  that  M.  Briand  does  not  insist  on  the  maintenance  of 
clause  5,  because  if  the  Allies  are  victorious  they  can  carry  out 
their  promises,  but  if  only  partially  successful  Roumania  will  be 
forced  to  bow  to  circumstances.  On  August  12  the  Tsar  agrees 
to  all  the  Roumanian  terms.  The  secret  treaty  was  signed  on 
August  18,  the  Salonika  advance  to  take  place  on  August  20  and 
the  entrance  of  Roumania  on  August  28. 


13 

From  a  Note  signed  by  General  Polivanoff,  dated  November  20, 
1916,  forming  one  of  a  series  of  diplomatic  documents 
published  by  the  "  Izvestiya  "  on  November  24,  1917. 

...  In  August,  1916,  there  was  signed  a  military -political 
agreement  with  Italy  giving  her  territorial  extensions  (in  Bukovina, 
Banat,  and  Transylvania)  which  were  obviously  out  of  proportion 
with  Koumania's  share  in  the  military  operations. 


IV.     POLAND  AND  KUSSIA'S  WESTERN  FRONTIERS. 

From  a  confidential  telegram  from  M.  Sazonoff  (Russian  Foreign 
Minister)  to  the  Russian  Ambassador  in  Paris,  March  9,  1916, 
No.  948. 

At  the  forthcoming  Conference  you  may  be  guided  by  the 
following  general  principles: — All  suggestions  for  the  future 
delimination  of  Central  Europe  are  at  present  premature,  but  in 


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14 

general  one  must  bear  in  mind  that  we  are  prepared  to  allow 
France  and  England  complete  freedom  in  drawing  up  the  western 
frontiers  of  Germany,  in  the  expectation  that  the  Allies  on  their 
part  would  allow  us  equal  freedom  in  drawing  up  our  frontiers 
with  Germany  and  Austria.  It  is  particularly  necessary  to  insist 
on  the  exclusion  of  the  Polish  question  from  the  subjects  of  inter- 
national discussion  and  on  the  elimination  of  all  attempts  to  place 
the  future  of  Poland  under  the  guarantee  and  the  control  of  the 
Powers.  — (Manchester  Guardian,  December  12,  1917.) 

Telegram  from  the  Russian  Ambassador  in  Paris,  March  11,  1917, 

No.  168. 

See  my  reply  to  telegram  No.  167,  No.  2.  The  Government 
of  the  French  Republic,  anxious  to  confirm  the  importance  of  the 
treaties  concluded  with  the  Russian  Government  in  1916  for  the 
settlement  on  the  termination  of  the  war  of  the  question  of 
Constantinople  and  the  Straits  in  accordance  with  Russia's 
aspirations,  anxious,  on  the  other  hand,  to  secure  for  its  ally  in 
military  and  industrial  respects  all  the  guarantees  desirable  for 
the  safety  and  the  economic  development  of  the  Empire,  recog- 
nises Russia's  complete  liberty  in  establishing  her  western 
frontiers.  (Signed)  ISVOI.SKY 

— (Manchester  Guardian,  December  12,  1917.) 


V.     CONSTANTINOPLE  AND  THE  STRAITS- 

From  an  undated  Memorandum  forming  one  of  a  series  of  Russian 
diplomatic  documents  published  by  the  "  Izvestiya"  on 
November  23,  1917. 

On  March  4,  1915,  a  Memorandum  was  handed  by  the 
Minister  for  Foreign  Affairs  to  the  French  and  British 
Ambassadors,  in  which  was  set  forth  the  desire  for  the  annexation, 
as  a  result  of  the  present  war,  of  the  following  territories: — The 
town  of  Constantinople,  the  western  shores  of  the  Bosphorus,  of 
the  Sea  of  Marmora,  and  of  the  Dardanelles,  Southern  Thrace  up 
to  the  line  of  Enos-Midia,  the  shores  of  Asia  Minor  between  the 
Bosphorus,  the  River  Sakaria,  and  some  point  on  the  Gulf  of 
Izmid,  which  was  reserved  for  closer  definition,  the  Islands  of  the 
Sea  of  Marmora,  and  the  Islands  of  Imbros  and  Tenedos.  The 
special  rights  of  France  and  England  within  the  limits  of  these 
territories  were  not  to  be  infringed. 

The  British  as  well  as  the  French  Government  declared  their 
consent  to  the  fulfilment  of  our  wishes,  on  the  condition  of  a 
successful  conclusion  of  the  war,  and  of  the  fulfilment  of  a  series 


15 

of  French   and   English   claims,   both  within   the  limits  of  the 
Ottoman  Empire  and  elsewhere. 

These  claims,  as  far  as  they  concern  Turkey,  may  be 
summarised  as  follows :  — The  recognition  of  Constantinople  as 
a  free  port  for  the  transit  of  merchandise  not  coming  from 
Eussia  nor  going  into  Eussia,  and  the  free  transit  of  merchant 
ships  through  the  Straits. 


BULGARIA 


GREECE 


BLACK 
SEA 


'•-.  TURKEY 

'• . ConstenHnoj: 

f/f      SEA    OF 
JVTARMOR. 


The  recognition  of  certain  rights  of  England  and  France  in 
Asiatic  Turkey,  which  rights  are  reserved  for  more  precise  defini- 
tion by  means  of  a  special  agreement  between  France,  England, 
and  Eussia. 

The  placing  of  the  sacred  Mussulman  places  and  Arabia  under 
an  independent  Mussulman  rule. 

The  inclusion  within  the  English  sphere  of  influent  of  the 
neutral  zone  of  Persia  (as  established  by  the  agreement  between 
England  and  Eussia  in  1907). 

Eecognising  these  demands  in  general,  subject  to  satisfaction 
(?),  the  Eussian  Government  nevertheless  made  several  reserves. 

[There  follow  certain  conditions  regarding  the  future  of  the 


16 

sacred   Mussulman   places    and   Eussian   claims   in   Persia   and 
Afghanistan.] 

After  Italy's  entry  into  the  war  our  desires  were  communi- 
cated to  the  Italian  Government,  which  on  its  side  declared  itd 
agreement  on  condition  of  a  victorious  conclusion  of  the  war,  of 
the  fulfilment  of  Italy's  claims  in  general  and  in  the  East  in 
particular,  and  of  our  giving  to  Italy  rights  similar  to  those  given 
to  France  and  England  in  the  territories  conceded  to  us. 

Confidential  telegram  of  the  Russian  Minister  for  Foreign  Affairs 
to  the  Russian  Ambassador  in  Paris,  March  18,  1915,  No. 
1,226. 

On  March  8  the  French  Ambassador,  on  behalf  of  hid 
Government,  announced  to  me  that  France  was  prepared  to  take 
up  a  most  favourable  attitude  in  the  matter  of  realisation  of  our 
desires  as  set  out  in  my  telegram  to  you,  No.  937,  .:n  respect  of  the 
Straits  and  Constantinople,  for  which  I  charged  you  to  tender 
Delcass^  my  gratitude. 

In  his  conversations  with  you,  Delcasse  had  previously  more 
than  once  given  his  assurance  that  we  could  rely  on  the  sympathy 
of  France,  and  only  referred  to  the  need  of  elucidating  the  question 
of  the  attitude  of  England,  from  whom  he  feared  some  objections, 
before  he  could  give  us  a  more  definite  assurance  in  the  above 
sense.  Now  the  British  Government  has  given  its  complete 
consent  in  writing  to  the  annexation  by  Russia  of  the  Straits  and 
Constantinople  within  the  limits  indicated  by  us,  and  only 
demanded  security  for  economic  interests  and  a  similar  benevolent 
attitude  on  our  part  towards  the  political  aspirations  of  England 
in  other  parts. 

For  me,  personally,  filled  as  I  am  with  most  complete 
confidence  in  Delcasse^  the  assurance  received  from  him  is  quite 
sufficient,  but  the  Imperial  Government  would  desire  a  more 
definite  pronouncement  of  France's  assent  to  the  complete  satis- 
faction of  our  desires,  similar  to  that  made  by  the  British 
Government.  (Signed)  SAZONOFF. 

— (Manchester  Guardian,  December  12,  1917.) 

From  a  confidential  telegram  of  the  Russian  Minister  for  Foreign 
Affairs  to  the  Russian  Ambassador  in  Paris  (?  London) , 
March  20,  1915,  No.  1,265. 

Referring  to  the  memorandum  of  the  British  Government 
(?  Embassy)  here  of  March  12,  will  you  please  express  to  Grey 
the  profound  gratitude  of  the  Imperial  Government  for  the 
complete  and  final  assent  of  Great  Britain  to  the  solution  of  the 


17 

-question  of  the  Straits  and  Constantinople,  in  accordance  with 
Russia's  desires.  The  Imperial  Government  fully  appreciates  the 
sentiments  of  the  British  Government  and  feels  certain  that  a 
sincere  recognition  of  mutual  interests  will  secure  for  ever  the  firm 
friendship  between  Eussia  and  Great  Britain. 

Having  already  given  its  promise  respecting  the  conditions 
of  trade  in  the  Straits  and  Constantinople,  the  Imperial  Govern- 
ment sees  no  objection  to  confirming  its  assent  to  the  establish- 
ment of  (1)  free  transit  through  Constantinople  for  all  goods  not 
proceeding  from  or  proceeding  to  Eussia,  and  (2)  free  passage 
through  the  Straits  for  merchant  vessels.  (Signed)  SAZONOFF- 
— (Manchester  Guardian,  December  12,  1917.) 


VI.     TUEKEY  IN  ASIA. 

Memorandum  (dated  March  6,  1917)  of  an  agreement  arrived  at 
between  Britain,  France,  and  Russia  in  the  Spring  of  1916. 

As  a  result  of  negotiations  which  took  place  in  London  and 
Petrograd  in  the  Spring  of  1916,  the  Allied  British,  French,  and 
Eussian  Governments  came  to  an  agreement  as  regards  the  future 
delimitation  of  their  respective  zones  of  influence  and  territorial 
acquisitions  in  Asiatic  Turkey,  as  well  as  the  formaton  in  Arabia 
of  an  independent  Arab  State,  or  a  federation  of  Arab  States.  The 
general  principles  of  the  agreement  are  as  follows:  — 

Eussia  obtains  the  provinces  of  Erzerum,  Trebizond,  Van, 
and  Bitlis,  as  well  as  territory  in  the  southern  part  of  Kurdistan 
along  the  line  Mush-Sert-Ibn-Omar-Amadjie-Persian  frontier.  The 
limit  of  Eussian  acquisitions  on  the  Black  Sea  coast  would  be 
fixed  later  on  at  a  point  lying  west  of  Trebizond. 

France  obtains  the  coastal  strip  of  Syria,  the  vilayet  of  Adana, 
and  a  territory  bounded  on  the  south  by  a  line  Aintab-Mardin  to 
the  future  Eussian  frontier,  and  on  the  north  by  a  line  Ala-Dagh- 
Zara-Egin-Kharput. 

Great  Britain  obtains  the  southern  part  of  Mesopotamia, 
with  Bagdad,  and  stipulates  for  herself  in  Syria  the  ports  of  Haifa 
and  Akka. 

By  agreement  between  France  and  England  the  zone  between 
the  French  and  British  territories  forms  a  confederation  cf  /rab 
States,  or  one  independent  Arab  State,  the  zones  of  influence  in 
which  are  determined  at  the  same  time. 

Alexandretta  is  proclaimed  a  free  port. 

With  a  view  to  securing  the  religious  interests  of  the  Entente 
Powers,  Palestine,  with  the  holy  places,  is  separated  from  Turkish 


19 

territory  and  subjected  to  a  special  regime  to  be  determined  by 
agreement  between  Russia,  France,  and  England. 

As  a  general  rule  the  contracting  Powers  undertake  mutually 
to  recognise  the  concessions  and  privileges  existing  in  the  territories 
now  acquired  by  them  which  have  existed  before  the  war. 

They  agree  to  assume  such  portions  of  the  Ottoman  Debt  as 
corresponds  to  their  respective  acquisitions. 

— (Manchester  Guardian,  January  19,  1918.) 

NOTE. — The  following  passage  occurs  in  an  undated  Memorandum 
forming  one  of  a  series  of  diplomatic  documents  published  by  the  Izvestiya 
on  November  23,  1917,  and  referring  to  a  Memorandum  of  March  4, 
1915  :— 

"  The  Russian  Government,  while,  on  the  whole,  agreeing  to  these 
demands  [placing  of  the  sacred  Mussulman  places  and  Arabia  under  an 
independent  Mussulman  rule,  etc. — see  above,  under  heading  "  Con- 
stantinople and  the  Straits"],  nevertheless  made  certain  stipulations  for 
the  sake  of  defining  our  own  wishes  with  regard  to  the  sacred  Mussulman 
places.  It  is  necessary,  without  delay,  to  establish  whether  these  places 
are  to  remain  under  the  rule  of  Turkey,  with  the  Sultan  as  Caliph,  or  it 
is  contemplated  to  form  new  independent  States.  In  our  opinion  it  would 
be  desirable  to  separate  the  Caliphate  from  Turkey.  In  any  case,  complete 
freedom  of  pilgrimage  must  be  secured." 

NOTE  also  Article  12  of  the  Agreement  with  Italy. 


VII.     PERSIA. 

From  a  confidential  telegram  of  the  Russian  Minister  for  Foreign 
Affairs  to  the  Russian  Ambassador  in  Paris  ( ?  London), 
March  20,  1915,  No-  1265. 

The  Imperial  Government  confirms  its  assent  to  the  inclusion 
of  the  neutral  zone  of  Persia  in  the  British  sphere  of  influence. 
At  the  same  time,  however,  it  regards  it  as  just  to  stipulate  that 
the  districts  adjoining  the  cities  of  Ispahan  and  Yezd,  forming 
with  them  one  inseparable  whole,  should  be  secured  for  Russia 
in  view  of  the  Russian  interests  which  have  arisen  there.  The 
neutral  zone  now  forms  a  wedge  between  the  Russian  and  Afghan 
frontiers,  and  comes  up  to  the  very  frontier  line  of  Russia  at 
Sulfager.  Hence  a  portion  of  this  wedge  will  have  to  be  annexed 
to  the  Russian  sphere  of  influence.  Of  essential  importance  to  the 
Imperial  Government  is  the  question  of  railway  construction  in  the 
neutral  zone,  which  will  require  further  amicable  discussion. 

The  Imperial  Government  expects  that  in  future  its  full 
liberty  of  action  will  be  recognised  in  the  sphere  of  influence 


20 

allotted  to  it,  coupled  in  particular  with  the  right  of  preferentially 
developing  in  that  sphere  its  financial  and  economic  policies. 

(Manchester  Guardian,  December  12,  1917.) 

NOTE. — The  same  stipulations  are  contained  in  the  undated 
memorandum  quoted  above  under  the  heading  "  Constantinople  and  the 
Straits." 


SEA     {^ 

Asterabad 
TEHERAN 
RUSSIA*N     SPHERE,-'' 


•BRITISH 
SPHERE 


VIII.     CHINA. 

Treaty  between  Russia  and  Japan,  signed  by  the  Russian  Foreign 
Minister,  M.  Sazonoff,  and  the  Japanese  Ambassador  at 
Petrograd,  July  3,  1916. 

The  Eussian  Imperial  Government  and  the  Japanese  Imperial 
Government  have,  with  a  view  to  the  greater  consolidation  of 
their  close  friendship,  established  between  them  by  the  secret 
agreements,  of  July  30,  1907,  July  4,  1910,  and  July  8,  1912, 
agreed  to  supplement  the  above-mentioned  secret  agreements  by 
the  following  articles  :  — 

ARTICLE  1. — The  two  high  contracting  parties  acknowledge 


21 

that  the  vital  interests  of  both  require  the  safeguarding  of  China 
against  the  political  domination  by  any  third  Power  entertaining 
hostile  designs  towards  Kussia  or  Japan,  and  therefore  mutually 
pledge  themselves,  each  time  when  circumstances  demand  it,  to 
enter  into  frank  relations  based  on  complete  mutual  trust  with 
one  another  with  a  view  to  taking  joint  measures  for  the  preven- 


>*x.  MONGOLIA 


tion  of  the  possibility  of  the  advent  of  such  a  state  of  affairs  (in 
China). 

ARTICLE  2. — If  as  the  result  of  the  measures  taken  by  mutual 
agreement  by  Eussia  and  Japan,  in  virtue  of  the  preceding  article, 
war  should  be  declared  by  the  third'  Power  referred  to  in  Article 
1  of  the  present  Convention  on  either  of  the  contracting  parties., 
the  other  party  shall  on  the  first  demand  of  its  ally  come  to  its 
assistance,  and  each  of  the  high  contracting  parties  pledges  itaelf 
hereby,  in  case  such  a  situation  should  arise,  not  to  conclude 
peace  with  the  common  enemy  without  the  previous  consent  of 
its  ally. 

ARTICLE  3. — The  terms  on  which  each  high  contracting  party 
is  to  render  armed  assistance  to  the  other  in  accordance  with  the 
preceding  Article,  as  well  as  the  form  in  which  this  assistance  is 


UCSB    LIBRARY 
X-  W/5 

22 

to  be  rendered,  shall   be   determined  jointly  by  the  respective 
competent  authorities  of  the  two  contracting  parties. 

ARTICLE  4 —Provided  that  neither  high  contracting  party 
shall  regard  itself  bound  by  Article  2  of  the  present  Convention  in 
respect  of  rendering  armed  assistance  to  its  ally  so  long  as  it  has 
not  been  given  guarantees  by  its  allies  that  they,  too,  will  render 
such  assistance  to  it  as  would  correspond  to  the  seriousness  of  the 
impending  conflict. 

\RTICLE  5.  The  present  Convention  ejnters  into  force  as 
from  the  moment  of  its  signature,  and  shall  remain  in  force  until 
July  14  1921  Should  one  of  the  high  contracting  parties  not 
deem  it'necessary,  twelve  months  before  the  expiry  of  this  term, 
to  give  notice  of  its  unwillingnes*  to  prolong  the  validity  of  the 
present  Convention,  the  latter  shall  remain  in  force  for  a  period  of 
one  year  after  it  has  been  denounced  by  one  or  the  other  of  1 
high  contracting  parties. 

ARTICLE  6  —The  present  Convention  shall  be  kept  in  complete 
secrecy  from  everybody  except  the  two  high  contracting  parties. 
In  witness  whereof  the  undersigned  have  confirmed  the 
present  instrument  by  hand  and  seal  at  Petrograd,  July -3,  1  18, 
corresponding  to  the  Japanese  date  of  Thursday,  seventh  month 
and  fifth  year  in  the  reign  of  Taise. 

(Signed)  SAZONOFF,  MOTONO. 
—(Manchester  Guardian,  February  1,  1918.) 


The  Address  of  the  Author  is  6,  Enkine  Hill,  Golder's  Green.  London,  N.W. 


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